Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-05-19

"a Once more, past youth as shewas, her heart
gave a wild bound She covered her face
with her hands, as had been her wont in her
childhood when powerfully excited. Then
she laughed at herself in scorn, then she was
yexed at her folly. After all, was it still only
. oldl Was this all she had learned In these
years of hard disciplineI ttfj (
She shook her head impatiently, saying to
herself:
SHIRLEY Carstone, you are an IDIOT
Be sure the gray twilight is full of sweet
thoughts for her that night The forlmn
wings would be free to fly at last. Was the
light coming even to heri Were peace, Joy,
love to be hers too, even after all these years!
It seemed too good to be true. But there
was his letter. IL was true. Yet even in
that moment the supreme dream of her life
: fitted across her happified vision The poem,
the poeml She would indeed write it now.
/ The toiling for others, the weary occupation
at tasks she disliked-that was over at last, at
last! Nothing would come between her and
her hopes. s- i..rt -.ff I'D r..
Once again, as twice before, she thought of
the pride the master would take in his pupils
work A wave of happiness surged across
her spirit. She said to herself:
@High as he is, distinguished as he is, he
shall be proud Of mei' 'E-
1t was like the sunset sun bursting glori-
ously UhrouSn mountain Oh cloud.
Meantime, q thousand miles away, a man
impatiently awaited the creeping of the slow
footed days. He could scarcely keep himself
within bounds till the pokey United States
mail brought him letter. He went off to
| himself to read it when it came. He opened
it with unsteady hands. 1t only said:
"Come. .-. ,..- .... SHIRLEY"
Come! Only that one word
How ho would nrofhor ha,. fo biO baort ood
hold her there foreverl Her weak woman's
arms had upborne so much, and so long.
Now his strong mans hands would hold hers,
and strengthen them and steady them the
rest of the way. He would care for her as
no husband ever cared for wife before, be-
cause she had suffered so much. One of his
first thoughts, too, was for the poem. Above
all, she should write her poem at last. He
would uphold her and encourage her while
she wrote. No more wearineSs or self sacrifice
for her, no more sorrow or loneliness for
either. Light had broken for them both
He hastened to be gone. At the moment Of
starting an unexpected business matter held
him back till next day. He swallowed his
impatience, and waited. Another letter from
Shirley in the morning. He opened it and
| was stunned to read:
''There is great news for you. I have
| to1nd your sons"
The rest of the letter left no doubt of the
truth. Every point Of information was sup
| Piled, even to mention of the turquoise ring.
| It was one he had given to Myra in the days
of their brief, foolish courtship The unfortu-
nate woman had passion for jewels, which
clung to her even in her crazed condition.
Beyond dclht, then, she had removed the
| children and her Jewel box from the house
before she fired it. The burglar, prowlng
-hcre in the midnight, had taken both. 1t
| was tile ring which sealed the foolish engage
ment that at last made it possible to trace the
boys.
No, not link was missing from this strange
story. Shirley did not say where his boys
| were, however. She merely told him she
knew where they were. Boys9 Why, they
must be men long since.
AS he settled himself in the train he was
half dazed with surprise and joy. He, the
| lonely and kindredless among men-wife,
children, home, all that men hold dearest,
were to be his at last. In q strange, happy
| dream he turned his face once more toward
Lnwood. But most of all he hugged to his
heart the letter that contained only the one
golden word:
ttCIon1nrIi